Nigeria’s federal government has put the country’s security apparatus on the highest level of alert in response to worsening insecurity and recent attacks in some parts of the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the red alert on Wednesday, while briefing the media.
Idris conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s sympathies to families and communities affected by the recent acts of terrorism and criminality, while also reaffirming the president’s unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians.
The announcement came as Tinubu, on Wednesday, postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg and Luanda. He was billed to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders in South Africa and, thereafter, proceed to Angola to attend the 7th AU-EU Summit.
Tinubu awaited further security briefings on the kidnapped students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.
In response to the request by the governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Tinubu, according to a statement by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, ordered the deployment of more security men to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area of the state. He also directed the police to go after the bandits, who attacked worshippers.
Conveying the president’s firm commitment to protecting life and property in the country, Idris stated, “Let it be known that President Tinubu has put our nation’s security apparatuses on the highest alert ever, and has deployed to actively pursue and eliminate terrorists, bandits, and criminal elements wherever they may be in Nigeria.
“Our security forces have also been mandated to swiftly rescue the abducted Kebbi schoolgirls and reunite them with their families.”
He decried the killing of Brig-Gen Uba and the abduction of female students in Kebbi State, as well as the attack on a church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, as “painful reminders of the threats confronting the nation”.
Idris said such acts only strengthened the federal government’s resolve to decisively defeat terrorism and banditry.
He disclosed that Tinubu had postponed his scheduled international engagements, including the G20 meeting in South Africa, to focus squarely on domestic security developments.
The minister added that the president had directed the military and the police to deploy additional personnel to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, to ensure strong security coverage and rapid response.
He explained that Vice President Kashim Shettima was also in Birnin Kebbi, at the president’s instruction, to deliberate with Governor Mohammed Idris, security chiefs, traditional rulers, and families of the abducted schoolgirls.
The information minister assured Nigerians that the rescue of the abducted Kebbi schoolgirls remained an urgent national priority.
He added, “President Tinubu has also directed all security agencies to actively pursue, neutralise, and dismantle terrorists and criminal networks across the country.”
The minister refuted any sectarian interpretation to the country’s security challenges, while stressing that Nigeria’s security threats, from terrorism to banditry, had affected citizens of all faiths and backgrounds.
“In this critical moment, national unity is our most powerful asset,” he said, stressing, “We must reject misinformation and division. Our common enemies are terrorists and criminals seeking to destabilise our country.”
He reinforced Nigeria’s status as a multi-faith country where freedom of worship was constitutionally guaranteed.
Idris urged citizens to stand together in solidarity and support the efforts of the security agencies working tirelessly to secure the country. He said the government remained confident that the ongoing security operations would lead to the swift rescue of the abducted schoolgirls and the restoration of peace in affected communities.
Tinubu was scheduled to leave Abuja on Wednesday to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders in South Africa and 7th African Union-European Union (AU-EU) Summit in Angola.
But disturbed by the security breaches in Kebbi State and Monday’s attack by bandits against worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, Tinubu decided to suspend his departure.
The president was said to be awaiting reports from the vice president, who was sent on a sympathy visit to Kebbi on his behalf, as well as reports from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding the attack in Kwara.
Tinubu reiterated his directive to the security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the abducted schoolgirls and bring them back home safe.
Tinubu Deeply Troubled, Shares Your Anguish, Shettima Tells Students’ Families
Vice President Kashim Shettima told the families of the abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State, the late Brigadier-General Musa Uba, and Vice Principal of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, that Tinubu was deeply troubled by the tragic incidents.
Shettima vowed that the government would deploy all instruments of state to rescue the schoolchildren and ensure their abductors, and killers of the military officer, as well as the vice principal were made to face the full weight of justice.
Shettima, who spoke while in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, on the directive of Tinubu, described the abduction of the schoolgirls from the boarding school in Maga as an assault on the collective conscience of all Nigerians.
The president had Tuesday evening asked his deputy to visit the state to sympathise with the state government and assure the parents and guardians of the kidnapped schoolgirls that the government would ensure their quick and safe return home.
Extending Tinubu’s sympathy to families of the abducted schoolgirls and the state government, Shettima said, “Kebbi’s pain is Nigeria’s pain. When one child is taken, every home in this nation grieves. When girls in the safety of their classroom are seized by criminals, our collective conscience is assaulted.
“Mr. President is deeply troubled by this tragedy. He shares your anguish, and he has sent me to assure you that this is not a moment for politics. This grief transcends party lines, geography, and identity.
“This is a time for unity, for compassion, and for firm resolve in the face of evil. Our priority is singular and unflinching: our daughters must return home safely.”
On behalf of Tinubu, Shettima assured the people that their tears, fears, and cries were a stain on Nigeria’s collective conscience, and the country “shall not turn away from this responsibility”.
He stated, “This government will not relent. We will use every instrument of the state to bring these girls home and to ensure that the perpetrators of this wickedness face the full weight of justice. Kebbi, you are not alone. Nigeria stands with you. And we shall not rest until your daughters return to your warm embrace.”
The vice president promised that the federal government would support families of the late Uba, the late vice principal, and others who were killed by the terror groups, while doing everything possible to rescue the abducted schoolgirls.
Shettima said, “We also honour the ultimate sacrifice made by some of our brave officers. To the family of the late Brigadier-General Musa Uba, we say: his sacrifice will never be forgotten.
“When a soldier gives his life in defence of this nation, a part of our collective soul is touched. We will honour him, his family, and all who pay the supreme price in service to Nigeria.”
Shettima applauded the governor of Kebbi State, community leaders, traditional rulers, local vigilante groups, civil society partners, and all stakeholders for rallying together in the moment of distress.
“Your cooperation, your vigilance, and your unity are indispensable to the search for our girls and to the safety of our communities,” he said.
Shettima also commended the gallant officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and all paramilitary and intelligence agencies for their gallantry in the face of security challenges confronting the country.
He told them, “Your courage, your tirelessness, and your sacrifices often unseen and unsung remain the backbone of our nation’s security. You stand on the frontlines so that the rest of us may sleep with hope. The nation appreciates you.”
The Kebbi State governor thanked Tinubu for the show of support, concern and immense leadership.
He said since the incidents happened, the president had been in touch with the state government. He said with the commitment and efforts of the government, he was optimistic that the kidnapped schoolgirls would soon be rescued.
The governor particularly thanked the vice president for the show of concern. He affirmed the state’s commitment and loyalty to the Tinubu administration, vowing continued partnership and cooperation with the federal government in ensuring the release of the girls.
Idris stated, “We, in Kebbi, are most touched by the show of concern and deepened actions being taking to rescue our girls. I am optimistic that they will be rescued. It is a painful experience but we also will ensure that we put all in place to avert any of such future occurrence.
“We thank Mr President, here ably represented by our very own vice president. We thank you for the concern, and the communications and actions behind the scene thus far. We deeply appreciate, Sir.”
Present at the meeting were National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nantawe Yitwada; Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Umar Tafida; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; his counterparts in Women Affairs, Hajiya Iman Suleiman Ibrahim; Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Bernard Fori; and Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Tanko Yusuf.
Others included members of the National Assembly; members of the state House of Assembly; former Governor of Kebbi State, Usman Dakingari; Senator Bala Ibn Na Allah; Director General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar; Secretary to Kebbi State Government, Yakubu Bala; members of the State Executive Council; senior government officials; as well as heads of military and para-military agencies.
Kebbi Govt Debunks Claims Attack Took Place in Christian Enclave
Kebbi State Government dismissed as “false and misleading” a claim by U.S. Representative, Riley Moore, that the recent abduction of 25 schoolgirls occurred in a “Christian enclave.”
A statement, signed by Chief Press Secretary Ahmed Idris, stressed that Maga was a predominantly Muslim community and all the abducted students were Muslims.
The government’s rebuttal came amid a flurry of international attention. U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, had seized on the incident to highlight what they described as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Moore’s post on X echoed the narrative, prompting a swift response from Nigerian authorities, who argued that the bandits responsible for the attack do not target based on religion
According to the statement, security forces have intensified the hunt for the missing girls to ensure their safe rescue.
Kebbi State Government also reminded the public that banditry in the North‑west had disproportionately affected Muslim communities, citing recent attacks on mosques in neighbouring Katsina State.
“If these bandits were driven by religious motives, why then do they attack and kill Muslims while praying in mosques?” the statement said.
Kebbi State Government urged lawmakers and the media to verify facts before making public statements that could “distort facts or fuel misunderstanding”.
